Automotive Review

Audi is introducing an exclusive special edition of its flagship. The A8 Audi exclusive concept with W12 engine (500 hp/368 kW) will be built at the quattro GmbH facility in Neckarsulm. The small-series production model, which is scheduled to begin rolling off the assembly line in March 2014, is strictly limited to 50 units.

Even the standard version of Audis flagship model, the A8, impresses with its uncompromisingly high standard of workmanship. In the cabin, its craftsmanship character can be experienced with all five senses. The brand is now taking this a step further with the A8 Audi exclusive concept, which features the W12 engine and is thus only available in the long body version.

The A8 Audi exclusive concept boasts a particularly elegant interior. Audi uses aniline leather in the color Agatha cognac. Sourced from the tradition-laden Italian designer furniture maker Poltrona Frau, this leather is particularly soft and natural looking. The center sections of the seats feature diamond quilting. The inlays are made of fine grain olive ash natural silver brown. Its gray-brown shade harmonizes with the granite gray piping, stitching and central pleat of the seats. The shade granite gray is also found on the steering wheel, the door top shoulders and the upper section of the instrument panel, which is covered with fine Nappa leather. The headlining is in snow white Alcantara, the rear shelf is covered with cognac brown Alcantara and the carpeting is jet gray.

The A8 Audi exclusive concept will be built in a limited production run of just 50 units. Each vehicle will have a special logo on the door sill trims.

Volkswagen will expand the Golf range even further at the 83rd Geneva Salon de lAutomobile with the debut of the new Golf Variant (wagon). Like the new Golf hatchback, the Variant is significantly lighter than its predecessor, to the tune of up to 232 pounds.

For the first time, Volkswagen is also offering the Golf Variant as a stand-alone and extremely fuel-efficient TDI BlueMotion model in Europe. The 110-horsepower Variant is the most fuel-efficient Volkswagen wagon ever, with an EC combined fuel economy figure of 71.3 mpg (equivalent to 87 g/km CO2) when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission.

The all-wheel-drive Golf Variant 4Motion will also debut in Geneva. It will be available as a TDI Clean Diesel model with 105- and 150-hp engines. Volkswagen has a Golf Estate TGI BlueMotion with natural gas drive (CNG) in the pipeline, too.

Roomier than ever. More than 1.8 million Golf Variants have been sold since this practical wagon was launched 20 years ago. The new Golf Variant is a sporty and elegant all-rounder that combines great gas mileage and excellent performance with premium quality and versatility.

The versatility has been improved even further in the new model because the trunk volume with the seats in place has been expanded by 20 percent; with the rear seats folded, the load area isincreased by nearly nine percent.

The cargo area is now 41.5 inches long; with the rear seats folded, the length is 72.1 inches; and the load sill is just 24.8 inches high. Thus, the Golf Variant is up to the majority of hauling tasks. For the first time, the wagon features a roller blind with a two-step roll-up mechanism to cover the luggage compartment: when its not needed, the blind and the compartments net partition can bestowed under the cargo floor.

In addition, the cargo floor is adjustable for height and can be locked in different positions. The split rear folding seat has also been completely redesigned and is more practical and easier to use, while there are now four bag hooks in the trunk area.

Even more striking. The Golf Variant is 12.1 inches longer than the hatchback, at 179.6 inches overall. Up to the B-post, the Variant is the same as the hatchback, but is unique aft of that point. It retains the precise and timeless lines that mark out the new Golf, but it is obvious that the car was designed in parallel with the hatchback and not simply derived from it.

Thats why the silhouette of the new Golf Variant is particularly distinctive, although there is one common design theme at the back of the car: The designers succeeded in transferring the classic Golf C-pillar shape, which is like a drawn bow, to the D-pillar of the Variant. Visually, the "third" side window forms a part of the D-pillar.

In contrast to the Golf hatchback, the so-called character line is picked up again behind the rear wheelarches and carried over completely to the rear of the vehicle, lending an even more muscular appearance. The precise window sill, the long side window, and the slightly rearward-sloping roof underscore this dynamic look. In addition, the new Golfs revised proportions - short body overhangs and a wheelbase that is increased from 101.5 to 103.8 inches - further enhance the sportiness.

Typically Golf. The new two-part taillights on the Golf Variant emphasize its family resemblance to the rest of the Golf range and reflect Volkswagens Brand DNA. The half of the taillight thats integrated in the trunk lid, however, is bigger than in the hatchback version and forms a longer parallel line with the graphic on the lower part of the trunk lid. In addition, a clear-cut difference between the Golf Variant and the "classic" Golf exists in the design of the middle part of the trunk lid and the bumpers: Whereas the license plate of the hatchback model is in the bumper, the designers of the Golf Estate decided to integrate it with the trunk lid.

TDI BlueMotion goes its own way. In Germany, the Golf Variant will be available in the Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline equipment lines, but the TDI BlueMotion model will only be offered in Trendline and Comfortline trims.

The TDI BlueMotion is not only different from the other models in the range from a technical standpoint, but also visually. From the front, the most fuel-efficient Variant can be distinguished by a partially closed radiator grille shutter, while flaps on the rear window rim identify it from the back. In addition, the model is equipped with an optimized underbody and wheelwell paneling, a 0.6-inch lower ride height, and super-low rolling resistance tires. There are also TDI BlueMotion badges on the front, back, and side of the body, as well as an optional "Clearwater Blue metallic" color.

High tech, high safety. Like all new Golfs, the Variant is equipped with a Stop/Start system and battery regeneration mode. For the first time on a wagon, it also has the new Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically slows down the vehicle when it is involved in an accident in order to further reduce its residual kinetic energy. Standard features on the European model include:

Premium class features. As a new feature, the PreCrash preventive occupant protection system is available for the new Golf Variant. If this system detects a potential accident situation, the drivers and front passengers seatbelts are automatically pre-tensioned to ensure the best possible protection by the airbag and belt system. When an even more critical situation is on hand, such as severe oversteer or understeer with ESC intervention, the side windows are closed (except for a small gap), along with the sunroof. When the windows and roof are nearly closed, the head and side airbags offer optimal energy absorption and are therefore at their most effective.

Moreover, a broad range of high-tech systems is on offer for the Variant. They cover technologies like Front Assist that includes the City Emergency Braking function; Automatic Distance Control (ACC); Lane Assist; Driver Alert system; road sign recognition and the latest generation of Park Assist; Light Assist and Dynamic Light Assist. More new systems have been added, such asprogressive steering; a newly developed ergonomic sport seat (ergoActive seat); a guard againstusing the wrong fuel in the diesels; and a new deluxe heated windshield. A driving profile selector is also a new feature: it has up to five modes -- "Eco," "Sport," "Normal," "Individual", and "Comfort". The last named is only available in in combination with the DCC adaptive chassiscontrol that is available for the first time on the Golf Variant.

Sophisticated infotainment. All Golf Variant models have touchscreen interfaces for their infotainment systems as standard. The new generation of systems is available with three different display sizes: 5 inches, 5.8 inches and 8 inches. Once you arrive at the mid-size screen, the displays have proximity sensors: as soon as the driver or front passenger moves a finger near to the touchscreen, the system automatically switches from display to input mode. The displays also have a function that lets users scroll through lists or browse CD covers in the media library with a swipe of the hand. Optional features include a high-end sound system by Dynaudio®.

New engine families. Just like the new Golf hatchback, the Variant uses two newly developedengine families - the EA211 gasoline engines and the EA288 turbodiesels. All Variants are fittedwith a Stop/Start system that reduces fuel consumption by up to four per cent and a batteryregeneration mode that cuts CO2 emissions by around three per cent.

The new Golf Variants have either a five- or six-speed transmission, depending on the engine. Most of the TSI® and TDI engines may also be combined with a DSG® dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

The EA211 turbocharged direct-injection gasoline engines produce 85, 105, 90, 122 and 140 hp. These engines are highly efficient: the 1.2-liter, 105-hp TSI BlueMotion Technology, for example, returns a combined figure of 46 mpg yet powers the car to a top speed of120 mph.

The new EA288 TDI diesel engines are incredibly efficient. The three high-tech diesels make 105, 110, and 150 horsepower, and return between 71 mpg for the BlueMotion and 56.0 mpg for the torquey 150-hp version.

The DC Avanti will be the first made-in-India supercar when it is launched for the Indian market. The Avanti in concept form was unveiled at the 2012 Auto Expo and then for the 2014 edition, DC Design brought the production- ready version of the car.

During the show the carmaker had announced that they would commence production of the car at their manufacturing facility located in Gujarat but added that the initial models will be built at their Talegaon facility in Pune.


Test mules of the vehicle have been sighted several times in and around Maharashtra. Most of these test vehicles have different sets of headlights and tail lamps, with many other makeshift components. This suggests that DC Design might be conducting some final tests of the production version of this car. However, we expect the car to retain most of the elements that were seen on the car displayed at the Auto Expo 2014.

Exterior

The Avanti appears to have been modelled on the lines of the Ferrari 458 Italia. The nose of the car is dominated by a massive mesh air intake and trapezoid bumper. The head lamps are bi-xenon units while there are LED DRLS shaped like eyebrows for the headlamps. Keeping true to its sports car heritage, the Avanti has a long and low bonnet that dips in the middle giving prominence to the DC logo and a single air vent located on top.


The side profile is low and long with a sharply raked windscreen and rear roofline that disappears into the engine bay behind the cabin. The pillars as well as the top of the roof have been painted in black. It appears to be sitting on large 18-inch wheels which carry a very specific DC design.


At the back the most dominating factor is the engine obviously which is covered in body coloured glass to help it merge into the background. DC has shaped the tail lamps as low, sleek units that sit sandwiched between the bumper and the edge of the engine cover.

Interior

The Avanti is a two-seater with the entire cabin being kitted out in what appears to be quilted out leather. This material is on the seats, dashboard, doors and space between the seats. The instrument cluster, steering wheel and more noticeably the AC are all basic units. We expect that DC will offer some more additional features, which will be standard in the segment, when the car is launched.


Engine and gearbox

The sportscar is a mid-engined vehicle that is powered by the critically acclaimed Ford EcoBoost 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. This mill churns out 250bhp of power and 360Nm of torque and has been mated to a six-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. DC Design house has equipped the car with a double wishbone setup both, at the front and at the rear as well.


Verdict

The car is expected to be launched by the end of this year or early 2015. It will be priced at around Rs 25-30 lakh. The Avanti will create a category in itself as it will be the first supercar produced in our country by any Indian manufacturer.